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In the late 80's when I was in high school 8th Street Video was the joint! It used to be on 8th street, but then it moved to 9th street, hence the name change. The funny name seemed indicative of the owner's sense of humor. His name was Steve. I haven't lived in Duluth for years and haven't been back there in almost 20 years but he was a great guy. I think his dad might have worked there or owned it with him. He'd get pissed if you kept movies past their due date, but he had good suggestions and good jokes. And - I remember that he used duct tape for cuts on his fingers rather than employing a band-aid.

The shop was founded by Steve in the mid-1980s. The original location was at 1826 E. 8th St., I believe. I'm not sure exactly what year they moved to the 9th street location.
Prior to the opening of the video shop, I have a vivid memory of going to look at Tarantulas as a boy at a pet store which was located in the same 8th Street location.

So many memories of this place. As a little kid one of my best pals lived right across the street. Then in later years us dorks would spend our weekends going in and out of there renting stuff. One of my favorite quotes would be when asking Steve which movie is good and he would retort (always) with "They're all good." Another pal drew a bunch of cartoony stuff of Steve that would be posted on the walls for free movies. Part of me wonders if that stuff is still there.
Sad that it's closing, but Netflix (progress) will do that.

I used to even rent VCRs there before I owned one. The father and son sold their dry cleaning business. Due to a non compete, they opened a video store. It was indeed at 19th and 8th, next to the pizza place, then called Zippy's. This was back in 1985-86 when I was a student at UMD.

I was debating posting something about this. I think that they probably sell more rentals, but that Ice Cream is probably a higher margin item for them in terms of profits. I'm not exactly sure why they want to sell, but it has got to be that it wasn't profitable. The primary reason that a business exists to make money and not to be a cool neighborhood store. I have trouble remembering that often.
They are keeping the somewhat larger store on 47th Ave E. My guess is that place will continue to do well for some time. Good location next to Portman and Sammy's Pizza, with lots of nice conscientious people nearby, sure to eventually return their videos even if they've racked up a few of those lucrative "late fees." However, Netflix is a juggernaut that has brought Blockbuster and other national chains like Hollywood Video into bankruptcy; make no mistake that it is also out to capture the business of every single mom and pop video store in the United States, too. Red Box will end up with whatever is left. So I think Danny is right, Netflix/Redbox is the culprit.
I briefly had a flutter of thinking about moving in Speedy Wienie and maybe running the video side as loss leader like a cooperative/consignment store along the lines of Alonzo's or some such thing. I think a locally owned video store is a terrible thing for a neighborhood to lose. However, Mrs. Goose caught wind of this (it's almost like she can "smell" my cracked ideas) and she very quickly let me know that was an insane idea. And it is. But hey, if someone else wants to try it, you'll have a regular customer in me. If not, I'm signing back up for Netflix (mmm ... Kool Aid.)

Total hearsay, but ... Steve has recently purchased a video store in Superior in what used to be the Black Steer Supper Club.
I believe a fellow named Peyton owns the 8th on 9th now. That store has been struggling for a few years to stay solvent, why else sell ice cream in a place where that product is only in demand 90 days out of the year?
I hope some other business can make a go of it in there.

My husband and I have lived within a mile of that video store for many years now, and we just can't get the heart up to go there much anymore. It's usually a VERY surly teenager or college student who can't be bothered to help us or is too busy on the phone or texting. I guess I'm probably getting old now that that's an issue for me, but it's usually our last-last-LAST resort.
I grew up in the neighborhood, though, and remember when it was a very different store. Always sad to see a local business close.

My last experience at a video store was the 47th Street location (now my closest video store) about a month after "Tyson" was released. They didn't have it and had no idea what it was. I then switched to Netflix exclusively for my movie rental needs.
Another 8th Street story just came to mind with regards to an adventure some friends and I had renting an adult film there. I won't share the details, but the whole experience is pretty funny to look back on.

When I was 8 months pregnant and accidentally waddled into the XXX area (thought it was the bathroom). For some reason rather than walking out I rented a porno. Yeah, my boyfriend was real surprised when I got home with our night's cinema. Steve never, ever forgot that one.

Back in the day it was Zippy's pizza on the corner, University Barbers in the middle and 8th Street Video on the end.
Steve did have an amazing memory for names.
I'm sure the uptick in streaming movies is hurting the store just like all the other brick and mortar video rental outfits. Definitely a neighborhood fixture for many years and one with a great name.

The original owner's name is Steve Lichterman. His father, who some people have mentioned above, was Phil Lichterman. They were beloved characters in the old East/Central Hillside area because they worked every single day and knew every person who ever set foot in their store.
Prior to starting this place, they owned Peter Pan Dry Cleaners. My dad was brought his dry cleaning to them in the '60s and '70s. When I started going to their video store in the '80s, they knew who I was because of my last name. They actually remembered my dad who they hadn't seen in over 10 years.
Steve sold the store sometime after Phil passed away. He did open a video store in Superior, and I assume he is still there. He was a great guy though, and sorta looked out for all the kids in the hood. He would call our parents and get permission to rent us Rated R movies. He was responsible for me and my friends introduction to Horror and Raunchy cinema. If you read this Steve, thanks for the memories!
Here's another bit of Hillside trivia: Does anyone remember "Starvin' Marrvin's" or "Hiller's Critters"? They were both in the same location as the original 8th St. Video. Hiller's Critters was a pet store owned by a former player for the Detroit Tigers.

Steve was awesome. There were some movies that were only painfully bad like The House of Whipcord. Then there were movies he would just let you have for free because they were so awful and he wouldn't even put on the shelf, like Crazy Fat Ethel II and The Magnum Farce. Good memories. The guy NEVER took a day off.

8th Street Video is now owned by Earl and Payton. It was once owned by Steve and his father Phil. Back in those days, it was a staple to the neighborhood. I have spent a great deal of time working the counter there.
People who say that they went to Redbox because they didn't get the service they deserved are people with hollow viewpoints. This video store has always been a place where long time customers know that they can feel at home. We know the types of movies they like and we know the kind of people they are. Good people!
The day that 8th Street Video closes will be a very sad day in East Hillside history. Anyway, Steve sold the store to Earl before Phil died. Steve later opened 2nd Street Video next to Presidents Liquor in Superior. Phil, Steve's father, passed a few years ago. As far as I know Steve still operates 2nd Street Video.
8th Street Video is struggling these days but the community can change that. Stop by for a movie. Come get an ice cream cone or a malt! Steve would say that, "they're all good" and "12 out of 10 people said it was good."

I grew up in Chester Park, so we went to 8th Street Video all the time when I was younger (early 90's)! I remember in the winter my parents would take me there by pulling me behind in a sled. Steve was/is awesome. He would always give me a sucker and tap the VHS on my head!!! To the person who said he was a stickler about late fees, he was the same way about broken merchandice (my mom learned that the hard way and we never went back as a result!). I had heard Steve sold it a while back. Great to hear he's still doing his magic in Superior!!! I drove past 8th Street Video today and saw it's still open (as soon as they have a buyer they will be gone by the end of the month in which it occurs). They are liquidating their supply (whatever doesn't sell will be shipped to the store on 47th Ave. East). All non-new release DVD's (they haven't started selling their new releases yet) are only $3 so go and give them some final business!!!
"I think that they probably sell more rentals, but that Ice Cream is probably a higher margin item for them in terms of profits. I'm not exactly sure why they want to sell, but it has got to be that it wasn't profitable."
That's what I've assumed. I know at Video Vision (another local chain, once had 6 stores and now only has 2), they do tanning services as well as movie rentals (actually many movie rental stores seem to be doing this now). I hear they make more off tanning services then they do movie rentals.
"They are keeping the somewhat larger store on 47th Ave E. My guess is that place will continue to do well for some time. Good location next to Portman and Sammy's Pizza, with lots of nice conscientious people nearby, sure to eventually return their videos even if they've racked up a few of those lucrative "late fees." However, Netflix is a juggernaut that has brought Blockbuster and other national chains like Hollywood Video into bankruptcy; make no mistake that it is also out to capture the business of every single mom and pop video store in the United States, too. Red Box will end up with whatever is left. So I think Danny is right, Netflix/Redbox is the culprit."
It's not just becuase of Netflix and Redbox, but also cable on-demand services (movie rental stores were on a list I recently read of the 10 most doomed industries by the end of the decade). Blockbuster has gone under because they haven't (until recently, and likely too late) adapted to changing times and markets. You can't charge $5 for a movie in this day and age. But yah, 8th Street Video closing will leave just 4 movie rental stores in Duluth; 8th Street Video on 47th, Blockbuster, Mr. Movies (any more of those left other then the one in Plaza?), and Video Vision. Blockbuster has closed like 2/3 of their stores since going bankrupt, and while they have been bought by Dish and are changing things around, they're still losing money, and will likely be closing more stores by the end of the year. I drive by our's all the time, and I haven't seen the customer lot more then half full in several years, so that one could be closing anytime. From what I hear, the other 3 movie rental stores in Duluth are doing just fine (especially since they're the only ones in their areas of the city!).
"He would call our parents and get permission to rent us Rated R movies. He was responsible for me and my friends introduction to Horror and Raunchy cinema. If you read this Steve, thanks for the memories!"
My mom told me my cousin from Omaha (before I was born) tried to rent Silent Night Deadly Night (anyone remember that movie?) from 8th Street Video. Steve called to get permission, and my mom refused!

"I switched to Netflix not only because of the 8.00 a month through my WII, but also because 90% of the dvds you rent skip like crazy. At least tapes ran until they broke. DVD's suck a__."
How old was your player? Or did you use a video game system to watch them? My friend had an old PS2 and Netflix DVDs constantly would skip on his player but not when I would play them on my new DVD player. Since he got an actual DVD player we've rarely had any problems with Netflix (I have pretty much never had any on my player). Ironically, when Mt. Royal Video Vision closed I rented some movies from them for nostalgic purposes. Two of the three skipped on mine AND my friend's players.

It's not accurate to blame the decline of video stores on any specific company. If it wasn't Netflix, it would be someone else - or another technology, pay per view for example? We simply do not need to transport pieces of plastic with data on them in order to watch movies at our houses any longer.

I worked for Steve at 8th St Video (on 9th St) for over four years after having been a long-time customer at his original 8th street and later 9th street store. I'm sorry to hear that Phil is no longer with us... his father was remarkable and used to bring us donuts and fudge EVERY single day (as if any of us were anorexic and needed more goodies...)
Steve was and is one of the most fair people I've ever met. He undercharged for every movie just so he could keep his base price at 98 cents for members (who usually got a "1-year" membership that lasted for 18 months to 2 years!) and 1.98 for non-members before tax... this was part of the "everything is 8" process that he believed in. Members usually paid $1 even though it was supposed to be $1.05 with tax. Non-members were charged $2 even though it was supposed to be $2.02 with tax. Even if you "knew a guy who knew a guy who was a member" you often got the member price if you were polite. :)
I left Duluth in 1995 and haven't talked with Steve since probably 2000 when he sold the store to our then "vice president" Sullivan family. "Earl Sullivan, Inc... mostly red ink," Earl would say. I think I'll call Steve at the Superior store tomorrow to catch up.
Common recommendations: Valmont, House of Whipcord, and a few others... it doesn't matter what you rent though, as they're all good movies. You should have seen some of the "notes" in people's account profile... hilarious. He loved his customers.
...and he would remember the names of nearly everyone that walked through the door; even if they only stopped by once every 5 years.

Does anyone know about the 8th street video and ice cream over on 47th St. in Lakeside? I was hoping for some stories about it back when it was the hangout spot that people were talking about.
I was also wondering if there are any regulars anyone know about that still go there today?